I Know I Am Overstocked But Is It Bad?

[pinkdolphin_113]

how about instead of fighting and arguing and causing conflict, why dont we give this guy some advice??

In my coldwater tank, i had a superly over growing algae problem! Not just green either! There was patches of brown algae in the darker places, black on the plastic leaves and green on the sides and rocks (my scrubber is rubbish!)
Anyway, I bought a gudgeon that was about 5-6 inches long or something and ALL the algea is gone completely. Im sure ive seen small gudgeon in tropical tanks (if your tank is tropical). this should stay smallish i recon.
The stocking is ok for about a year I'd say for the tiger barbs to start banging into each other.
( ! ! QUESTION ! ! *does anyone know if green tiger barbs are smaller than normal tiger barbs??*)
Not sure about the gourami though.

 

[UBigBobby]

how about instead of fighting and arguing and causing conflict, why dont we give this guy some advice??

In my coldwater tank, i had a superly over growing algae problem! Not just green either! There was patches of brown algae in the darker places, black on the plastic leaves and green on the sides and rocks (my scrubber is rubbish!)
Anyway, I bought a gudgeon that was about 5-6 inches long or something and ALL the algea is gone completely. Im sure ive seen small gudgeon in tropical tanks (if your tank is tropical). this should stay smallish i recon.
The stocking is ok for about a year I'd say for the tiger barbs to start banging into each other.
( ! ! QUESTION ! ! *does anyone know if green tiger barbs are smaller than normal tiger barbs??*)
Not sure about the gourami though.

Green Tiger Barbs are the same as regular ones. The Stripes a normal TB has are actually very dark green, not black. To create the Green TB's, breeders simply started to breed only the TB's with naturally occuring large amounts of "green". Eventually this became the Green TB we know today. There are the same fish, just a different color variation. So regular, green, and albino TB's are all the same species and reach the same general size.

 

[phlawed]

how about instead of fighting and arguing and causing conflict, why dont we give this guy some advice??

In my coldwater tank, i had a superly over growing algae problem! Not just green either! There was patches of brown algae in the darker places, black on the plastic leaves and green on the sides and rocks (my scrubber is rubbish!)
Anyway, I bought a gudgeon that was about 5-6 inches long or something and ALL the algea is gone completely. Im sure ive seen small gudgeon in tropical tanks (if your tank is tropical). this should stay smallish i recon.
The stocking is ok for about a year I'd say for the tiger barbs to start banging into each other.
( ! ! QUESTION ! ! *does anyone know if green tiger barbs are smaller than normal tiger barbs??*)
Not sure about the gourami though.

Green Tiger Barbs are the same as regular ones. The Stripes a normal TB has are actually very dark green, not black. To create the Green TB's, breeders simply started to breed only the TB's with naturally occuring large amounts of "green". Eventually this became the Green TB we know today. There are the same fish, just a different color variation. So regular, green, and albino TB's are all the same species and reach the same general size.

I have found that albino's usually grow a little bigger than normal TB's and are somewhat less agressive. I kept them for about 4 months and the albino's almost never cuased any troubles outside of tiger barbs. They would also spare weekly for dominance which was fun to watch. TB's though, seem to nip everything in tank.

 

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

I'm suprised nobody has brought up Oto's yet. They are the perfect algae eater for a small tank.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=35094

 

[lljdma06]

I'm suprised nobody has brought up Oto's yet. They are the perfect algae eater for a small tank.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=35094

Yes they are great, if you manage to get one that lives! They are wild-caught, you know, and many times their internal organs are damaged in transit, rendering them unable to properly digest food. They'll eat and eat and eat, but eventually they starve. I'm not saying all die, some get along great, and then you have a wonderful, peaceful fish that does the job well and likes to be in groups. Otos also like mature tanks, over 6 months old or so.

It's better to prevent algae rather than relying on a fish or another animal to take care of it for you. Try a siesta period when you have the tank lights off for 2-3 hours in the afternoon. This discourages algae. In addition, avoid contact with direct sunlight, cover a side of the tank that may be exposed with black paper to block out light, or move it to a location without much ambiant lighting. Clean water and a lack of excess nutrients also prevents algae. Basically good tank maitenance takes care of a lot of problems. In my experience, I have found a good gravel vacumn beats a pleco anyday for removing tank mulm and excess food.

To answer your question. You may be alright for now, but you may want to consider upgrading to a larger aquarium as your barbs grow. I would never consider housing tiger barbs with dwarf gouramis, the barbs a bit too boisterous for the slower-moving gouramis and their extended ventral fins make nice nipping targets. I know yours don't nip, but that could change, they are still young. In addition, dwarf gouramis prefer to be kept either alone or in a trio or quartet (1 male; 2-3 females). Males can be quite territorial. Just giving you a head's up. In larger tanks, you can get away with multiple males being housed together, but they must have adaquate hiding places (lots of plants, wood, etc).

I wouldn't recommend adding anymore fish at this time. I have had many tanks that didn't feature bottom feeders, they are not absolutely necessary. I have none in my 10g and it doesn't suffer. They can add balance aesthetically by adding movement into a different part of the tank, and the some of the best tanks have a combination of fish from all tank stratas (Surface, middle, bottom), but I have seen tanks that are just as stunning featuring only one type of fish. This, however, is not the point, the point is that your tank has a few too many potential problems to warrant adding fish at this time. So it may not seem over-stocked to you, but I would be cautious, especially about your barbs.

By the way, and I'll then let you go, I have seen species tanks of just tiger barbs, a wonderful idea for a 29g or larger tank. Good luck with your fish. One more question, 15g high or 15g long? It makes a difference for the gouramis, more surface territory in a 15g long.

Warmest,

lljdma06

 

[avirex]

I'm suprised nobody has brought up Oto's yet. They are the perfect algae eater for a small tank.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=35094

Yes they are great, if you manage to get one that lives! They are wild-caught, you know, and many times their internal organs are damaged in transit, rendering them unable to properly digest food. They'll eat and eat and eat, but eventually they starve. I'm not saying all die, some get along great, and then you have a wonderful, peaceful fish that does the job well and likes to be in groups. Otos also like mature tanks, over 6 months old or so.

It's better to prevent algae rather than relying on a fish or another animal to take care of it for you. Try a siesta period when you have the tank lights off for 2-3 hours in the afternoon. This discourages algae. In addition, avoid contact with direct sunlight, cover a side of the tank that may be exposed with black paper to block out light, or move it to a location without much ambiant lighting. Clean water and a lack of excess nutrients also prevents algae. Basically good tank maitenance takes care of a lot of problems. In my experience, I have found a good gravel vacumn beats a pleco anyday for removing tank mulm and excess food.

To answer your question. You may be alright for now, but you may want to consider upgrading to a larger aquarium as your barbs grow. I would never consider housing tiger barbs with dwarf gouramis, the barbs a bit too boisterous for the slower-moving gouramis and their extended ventral fins make nice nipping targets. I know yours don't nip, but that could change, they are still young. In addition, dwarf gouramis prefer to be kept either alone or in a trio or quartet (1 male; 2-3 females). Males can be quite territorial. Just giving you a head's up. In larger tanks, you can get away with multiple males being housed together, but they must have adaquate hiding places (lots of plants, wood, etc).

I wouldn't recommend adding anymore fish at this time. I have had many tanks that didn't feature bottom feeders, they are not absolutely necessary. I have none in my 10g and it doesn't suffer. They can add balance aesthetically by adding movement into a different part of the tank, and the some of the best tanks have a combination of fish from all tank stratas (Surface, middle, bottom), but I have seen tanks that are just as stunning featuring only one type of fish. This, however, is not the point, the point is that your tank has a few too many potential problems to warrant adding fish at this time. So it may not seem over-stocked to you, but I would be cautious, especially about your barbs.

By the way, and I'll then let you go, I have seen species tanks of just tiger barbs, a wonderful idea for a 29g or larger tank. Good luck with your fish. One more question, 15g high or 15g long? It makes a difference for the gouramis, more surface territory in a 15g long.

Warmest,

lljdma06

15 g long

once i get my own place ill be getting a 55g

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

For me, I have extreme brackish water so no pleco's. They're ugly and poop too much anyway (personal oppinion) so I just scrub everthing off when I can't stand to look at it anymore. No problems. Your tank will be fine till the fish get too big for it, which will happen eventually. So like was said earlier, just monitor the water parameters closely and maybe consider getting an apple snail to help clean up if you want. Don't worry if you don't, that just means that you'll have to step in as the sole "cleaning crew."

 

[avirex]

how long till u think my fish need a new home?